on  n.'^^^i 

7a  An, 


Duke  University  Libraries 

Communication  o 
Conf  Pam  #445 


MESSAGE  OF    if  IE  PRESIDENT. 


Richmond,  Va  ,  Feb.  8,  1865. 

To  the    Ifnuse  of  Reprascniativcs  : 

^n  rcpponse  to  your  resolution  of  the  2otli   ult,  1  herewith  trans 
mit  a  communication  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  covcrinfj;  a  list  of 
the  Qu^rtermastera  and  Asgitstant  Qiiartormastera  now  in  the  service 
and  indicating  the  lank  of  enoli  officer  and  the  duty  on  which  lie  is 
employed. 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 


COMAir'NlCATION  OF  SECRET AK^'  OF   WAR. 


Confederate  States  ok  Ameuica,  ) 

War  Department,  [ 

Richmond,  Ya.,  Feh.  7,  1804.      ) 


To  the  President 


Sm  : — I  have  received  the  following  lerfolution  of  the  House  of 
Rei>rcsentatives,  referred  by  yosr  PLvcellency  to  this  Department : 
'■  Resolved,  That  tlio  President  be  respectfully  requested,  if  not 
incompatible  with  the  public  interest,  to  communicate  to  this  House 
the  number  of  Quartermasters  now  in  the  employment  of  the  Con- 
federacy, designatisg  the  number  in  active  serrice  in  the  field,  and 
also  the  number  in  post  and  other  duties,  with  their  respective  ranks." 
In  response,  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  repoit  from 
tlie  Quartermaster  General,  containing  the  iftformation  desired  liy 
the  House. 

Vcrv  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  C.  BRECKINRIDGE, 

fc'ccretary  of  War. 


REPORT  OF  QCARTERMASTER  GENERAL. 

COKFEDERATE  STATES  OF  AMERICA.  ) 

Q'/arfermaster  Ge.neraVs  Office,      \ 
Richmond,  Feb.  4,  18G5.  ) 

ilon.  J.  A.  Seddon,  Secretary  of  War: 

Sill :— I  have  tlic  Iionor  to  acknowledge  the  reference  b}'  you  to 
this  office  of  a  coi)y  of  the  resolution  of  the  House  of  Representa- 
tives of  the  25th  January,  18G5,  requesting  the  President,  if  not 
incompatible  with  the  public  interests,  to  communicate  to  the  House 
"The  number  of  Quartermasters  now  in  the  employment  of  the  Con- 
federacy, designating  the  number  in  active  service  in  the  field,  and 
also  the  number  in  post  and  other  duties,  with  their  respective 
ranks,"  and  in  accordance  with  your  instructions,  to  submit  the  fol- 
lowing report,  viz  ; 
Whole  number  of  Quartcraiasters  now  in  the  employment 

of  the  Confederacy,  13iG 

Quaitermasters  with  the  rank  of  Lieut-Colonel : 

Cliief  Quartermasters  of  armies,  2 

Inspector  of  Railroad  transportatioji,  1 

On  General  Inspection  duty,  1 

On  Post  duty,  '  I 

—  6 
Quartermasters  with  the  rank  of  Major  : 

Number  in  active  service  in  the  field, east  of  the  Mis- 

sissipjii  river,  I73 

Num))cr  on  like  duty  in  Trans-Mississippi  Department,  30 
"         assigned  to  Post  and  other  duties,  east  of  tlic 

Mississi))pi  river,  GG 
"         on  like  duty,  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  lO 
Engaged  in  providing,  inspecting  and  repair- 
ing field  transportation,  east  of  the  Mississif)])i,  21 
"         on  like  duty,  west  of  same,  4 
"         inspectors  of  Railroad  transftortation,  f) 
on  Tax  in  kind  duty,  east  of  the  Mississijjpi,  H 
*•        '•        "            "         '•     v/cst    "            "  :j 
unassigned,  closing  accounts   for  linal  settle- 
ment, under  arrest,  Ac.,  4 
"         on  Eorage  duty,  5 
"         on    duty   as    i'rovost   Marshals,    Exchange 

Agents,  <tc.,  A-.c,  0 

•'         Prisoners  of  Waj-,  3 

"         on  general  insjx'ction  duly,  2 

"         on  duty  abroad,  o 

—  345 


rvy 


Quartermasters  with  the  rank  of  Captain  : 

Number  in  active  service   in  the  field,  east  of  the 

Mississippi  river,  590 

"        on  like  duty,  west  of  the  Mississippi,  47 

"        Post  and  other  duties  east  of  the  Mississippi,  128 
u  »        ..        u  ^est    "  •'  18 

"         engaged  in  providing, inspecting  and  repair- 
ing field  transportation,  east  of  the  Mississippi,    42 
"         on  like  duty,  west  "  "  3 

"        on  Tax  in  kind  duty,  east    "  "  7l 

"  *'        «'        "  west  "  "  14 

"        unassigned,  closing  accounts,  (fee,  0 

"        on  duty  collecting  and  forwarding  forage,  «fec.,  27 
"         Prisoners  of  war,  12 

"         on  duty  as  Inspectors  of  Railroad  transporta- 
tion, 6 

966 


Total  number,  l3lC 

RECAPITULATION. 

Whole  number  of  oflicers  on  duty  with  troops  in  the  field,  842 

"  "       on  duty  as  Inspectors  of  Transportation 

and  collecting  forage,  112 

"  "       on  duty  in  connection  with  the  tax  in  kind,     96 

"  "       on  Post  duty  proper  (including  those  in 

charge  of  manufactories,  purchasing  sup- 
plies, tfec.,)  223 

"  "       Prisoners  of  War,  15 

"       of  all  others,  28 

1316 

It  is  deemed  proper  to  add,  that  of  those  officers  reported  as  on 
post  duty,  a  considerable  number  are  known  to  be  over  forty-five 
years  of  age;  of  the  remainder  not  a  few  arc  officers  who  have 
been  transferred  from  field  to  post  duty,  on  surgeon's  certificate  of 
disabilily  for  the  former,  wliich  disability  was  caused,  in  many  in- 
stances, by  exposure  in  the  service,  and  in  others  by  wounds  re- 
ceived either  prior  or  subsequent  to  their  appointment  as  qaarter- 
jnasters.  The  policy  of  the  Department  has  been  to  assign  such 
officers  to  ])0sts,  relieving,  at  tlie  same  time  when  practicable,  there- 
from active  and  robust  men  wlio  have  been  assigned  to  field  duty  to 
supply  vacancies. 

Another  class  of  officers  on  post  duty,  comprises  those  who  have 
acquired  valuable  experience  in  the  discharge  of  important  duties, 
and  whose  familiarity  witli  the  resources  of  the  country  and  the 
wants  of  the  army,  coml^ned  with  remarkable  energy  and  efficiency 
renders  them  almost  indispensaltlo  to  the  public  service  in  their 
present  positions. 

It  may  also  be  added    that  a  number  of  the  officers  included  in 


the  foregoinp:  summary,    are  known  to  he   aliment-  from  their  com- 
mande  on  sick  leavi^  and  on  fiirluuj^liH. 
1  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  rcspcctriilly, 

Your  ohodictit  servant, 

A.  H.  LAWTON,  (i.  M.  Gcneial. 


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